Ezequiel: Bridging Cultures to Break Mental Health Stigma

For Ezequiel, growing up in Argentina meant understanding from an early age that mental health care is not just important but essential to a healthy life. Argentinian culture puts a great emphasis on the importance of mental healthcare. A study found, 71% of Argentinians often think about their mental well-being compared to 58% of Americans. “If you can afford to go to a therapist, you do,” Ezequiel shared. Due to the high demand for mental health care, there are 222 psychologists per 100,000 people compared to the U.S. which only has 30 per 100,000 people. Just as it’s common in the U.S. for families to suggest seeing a doctor when someone is physically ill, in Argentina, it’s equally normal to seek individual and family therapy.  

Ezequiel’s upbringing in a culture that prioritizes mental health care inspired his career choice. He earned his medical degree in Argentina and then moved to the U.S. to complete his residency. He was surprised at the lack of available and well-understood mental health education. He found that heavy stigma around receiving mental health care prevents Latin American communities from reaching out for support when they need it.   

These barriers to mental healthcare for other Latin Americans sparked a fire in Ezequiel. Wanting to make a difference in his community, he found NAMI-NYC and became an Advocacy Ambassador. Ezequiel was able to work with NAMI-NYC in pushing for mental health reform in NYC. 

Still, wanting to increase mental health education in the Latin American community, Ezequiel also helped create the NAMI-NYC program Hablemos. Hablemos presents mental health education to parents, teachers, and middle and high school students who speak Spanish. The presentation teaches participants the warning signs of mental health conditions, provides strategies to improve mental health, and encourages open communication about mental health concerns. “It’s more impactful when someone who speaks your language as a first language shares mental health education,” Ezequiel shared. Since starting Hablemos, Ezequiel has watched participation grow as more people want to learn how to best support themselves and their family’s mental health.  

To find more mental health programs for the Hispanic/Latino community, visit naminyc.org/espanol.